Dr LIM - 2004-08-24
You have failed to keep to your promise that the overflow water from the Alice Springs sewage ponds would be harvested and stored in an aquifer south of the Gap. For over a month now, large volumes of water have poured under the Stuart Highway to form stagnant pools of fermenting, foul-odoured water at St Mary’s Creek at the northern edge of the Old Timers Home. Apart from the stench, with the weather warming up, mosquitoes will be breeding in those stagnant pools of sewage. Minister, how can you sit there and ignore the problem? What will you do about it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting to hear the member for Greatorex complain about this. This is a problem that this government has taken on. We have given assurances to the Alice Springs community about overflow in the dry weather an the wetter months of the year. We have allocated $6.2m towards this project, and already substantial works have been carried out with pipes being laid to the Arid Zone Research Institute.
As well as that, I am not sure whether the member is aware, but there has been a lot of scientific work going on in determining the feasibility of aquifer recharge. There are some very good scientists who are working on that particular project and, if the member for Greatorex wants, I am more than prepared to arrange for him to go there and find out more about that particular project. It is a very good project …
Mr Dunham: Are you going to do it?
Dr BURNS: Well, we are doing it; Power and Water have allocated $6.2m …
Dr Lim: Stop the water flow. Stop the smell. Stop the mosquitoes.
Dr BURNS: What you seem to be ignoring is the fact that not only will this provide a solution to those overflows, it is also going to provide capacity for new horticultural industries in that particular region. There has been a contract let already, and there is considerable interest in developing horticultural industry in Alice Springs.
As usual, the opposition can only find the negatives. This government is interested in solutions and moving the Territory ahead.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting to hear the member for Greatorex complain about this. This is a problem that this government has taken on. We have given assurances to the Alice Springs community about overflow in the dry weather an the wetter months of the year. We have allocated $6.2m towards this project, and already substantial works have been carried out with pipes being laid to the Arid Zone Research Institute.
As well as that, I am not sure whether the member is aware, but there has been a lot of scientific work going on in determining the feasibility of aquifer recharge. There are some very good scientists who are working on that particular project and, if the member for Greatorex wants, I am more than prepared to arrange for him to go there and find out more about that particular project. It is a very good project …
Mr Dunham: Are you going to do it?
Dr BURNS: Well, we are doing it; Power and Water have allocated $6.2m …
Dr Lim: Stop the water flow. Stop the smell. Stop the mosquitoes.
Dr BURNS: What you seem to be ignoring is the fact that not only will this provide a solution to those overflows, it is also going to provide capacity for new horticultural industries in that particular region. There has been a contract let already, and there is considerable interest in developing horticultural industry in Alice Springs.
As usual, the opposition can only find the negatives. This government is interested in solutions and moving the Territory ahead.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016